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Archive for the 'The Watcher' Category

O.C.’s Poreotix survives! Now in top 4

March 19th, 2010, 1:51 pm by RICHARD CHANG, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

The Westminster dance crew Poreotix, backstage at the "America's Best Dance Crew" studio at Warner Bros. Photo by Richard Chang, The Register.

Poreotix, the street dancing crew from Westminster, survived last night’s competition on MTV’s “America’s Best Dance Crew” and is now heading to the final four.

The six guys who make up Poreotix danced to Usher’s smash hit, “Yeah!,” and generally impressed the judges — JC Chasez, Lil Mama and Omarion.

“Our fans have been very supportive,” Poreotix member Charles Nguyen, 20, said.

“We love them,” member Can Nguyen, 19, (no relation) added.

The other members of Poreotix are Lawrence Devera, 21, Chad Mayate, 20, Justin Valles, 20, and Matt Nguyen, 20.

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Watcher column: Mind your Ps & Qs & DVRs

March 19th, 2010, 9:50 am by The Watcher

[This is an updated version of the Watcher's weekly column in the Register. The original version, and the highly anticipated Top 10, can be found here.]

 

Rude boy

Ryan Seacrest is a rude guy.

Wednesday night, with the big announcement still 17 minutes away on the West Coast, Seacrest used Twitter to reveal that Lacey Brown had been voted out of “American Idol.”

This caused a minor firestorm among Ryan’s followers. Of course, Seacrest, who always has shown little regard for “Idol” fans, has not apologized for his gaffe.

Ryan is hardly the lone offender; he just a very public example of what has become a major social problem: the conflict between those who know the outcome of a show and those who haven’t seen it yet.

So how do we reconcile the instant communication ability of the Internet with the watch-it-at-your-leisure quality of the DVR?

As always, the Watcher is here to help. In my official role as America’s self-appointed arbiter of television etiquette, I have set out five rules for coping with this problem.

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‘Survivor’ out tonight; ‘Flash Forward’ returns

March 18th, 2010, 4:43 pm by The Watcher

Didn't you used to be Will Shakespeare?

A reminder: The NCAA basketball tournament on CBS means “Survivor” takes its annual spring vacation tonight.

“Heroes vs. Villains” returns next week, but on Wednesday.

If you’re looking for something to watch besides the usual NBC comedy lineup, “Flash Forward” returns from its winter hiatus with a two-hour episode on ABC.

The Watcher must confess, I’m not sure how excited I am by the prospect of picking up the “Flash Forward” story again. I enjoyed the first episode immensely, but I got a little less enthusiastic with each succeeding week. Now, after a several-month break, my appetite for the show is several diminished.

Anyone else feeling differently?

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‘American Idol’ Watchalong: Money talks

March 18th, 2010, 12:51 am by The Watcher

So long, Lacey

Here’s a number to keep in mind as we follow tonight’s festivities: $8.1 million.

Simon Cowell’s annual t-shirt budget? Nope. According to Forbes, that’s the amount of ad revenue this show pulls in every 30 minutes – more than twice what the No. 2 grosser manages.

Or put in scarier terms, that’s $4,500 flowing into the Fox coffers every second.

So as you enjoy the tinny sound, the crummy lighting, the tasteless set decoration and the countless tiny gaffes that “Dancing With the Stars” somehow manages to avoid – think about how little of that money goes to improving your viewing experience.

This is “American Idol.”

At least a few bucks were spent trying to improve the introduction – emphasis on trying. It’s longer and not quite so apocalyptic, stirring in shots of the Top 12 from different stages of their season so far.

The soundtrack, so appropriate as the judges push the contestants to be contemporary and relevant, is provided by the Everly Brothers. Perhaps their rights are cheaper.

After the credits, Ryan Seacrest makes his way down stage from the back of the auditorium, greeting audience members like some game show host. Which, I suppose, he is.

Ryan takes a few seconds to wish us a happy St. Patrick’s Day while the unseen Kieran, the Irish lighting director, turns the stage a hideous Kelly green. They couldn’t find an American to do that?

A quick introduction of the judges – Randy Jackson, Paula Abdul II, Karandy Jackson and Simon Cowell – finds Simon’s arm already draped over Karandy’s chair. Let the hostile work environment begin!

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Find out who got booted from ‘American Idol’ tonight

March 17th, 2010, 6:55 pm by PETER LARSEN, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

The pace slowed down — instead of four eliminations this week on “American Idol” we had but one — but the pressure ratcheted even higher. For making the Top 12 is nice, but it’s Top 10 that goes on tour, and the top four or so who usually get the biggest boost to their fledgling recording careers.

This season on “Idol” there are a few clear favorites, and then a lot of cannon fodder. So who made it through tonight? We’ll not spoil it in this paragraph. Click through the slide show to see your favorites in performance on Tuesday. And read on if you want to know ….

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NBC hires another ‘Apprentice’

March 17th, 2010, 4:32 pm by The Watcher

Just as many of us had hoped would happen when Jay Leno left prime time, NBC has begun adding new dramas to its lineup.

Except that its first addition is not a drama. And it’s not new.

It’s “The Apprentice.”

The network said Wednesday it would bring back the original, non-celebrity format of “The Apprentice” this fall. It is assumed the show will run in rotation with the spring celebrity edition.

Combined with “The Biggest Loser,” NBC will now be able to cross four hours a week off of its scheduling needs with just two reality shows.

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‘American Idol’ Watchalong: But I like it

March 17th, 2010, 1:16 am by The Watcher

Who was your favorite Tuesday? Vote in our poll

Ever heard of these guys?

Nothing will knock the Watcher off of his perch of optimism tonight.

The Top 12 begins, and to the music of the Rolling Stones, no less.

Keith and Mick and the boys probably are responsible for more good songs than any act in the history of rock and roll – even if they have been on cruise control for the last 30 years or so. Our chosen dozen will be hard pressed to be anything less than entertaining.

I won’t even be shaken by the horrifying news that Paula Abdul might be returning to TV to host yet another version of “Star Search.” Although I ought to be. Because what is more upsetting than the thought of Paula raining tears as some insufferable 9-year-old wails “My Heart Will Go On”? The series won’t even be on for a year at least and already I AM LOSING MY MIND AT THE PROSPECT!!

But not tonight. My 19th nervous breakdown must wait. The show is about to start.

This is “American Idol.”

And if this indeed is “American Idol,” we must be greeted by utter nonsense in the guise of hyperbole.

“Everything they’ve ever worked for has led up to this moment,” is the opening line Ryan Seacrest delivers so dramatically. Yeah, Ryan, that’s pretty much how the whole time thing works. The past leads to the present. The future comes after that.

And our future suddenly seems bleaker, as after the credits, some faceless, nameless stage announcer introduces the four judges: Randy Jackson, Paula Abdul II, Karandy Jackson and Simon Cowell. They appear from behind a curtain and stride across the stage to their seats. Didn’t we try this bit last year and drop it after it was universally panned? It didn’t get any better in the off-season.

Ryan is introduced and charges down the stairs to bring us some more precious tidbits of information. “This is when we begin the countdown to the finale,” he says. And what were we doing the past 10 weeks or so?

The Top 12 are hauled out on stage and lined up for roll call. Massive dude? Yep. Tall guy in jeans? Present. Little kid? Check. Teeny-bopper in her mom’s dress? Here. Hippie chick with dreads? Roger. All present and accounted for.

Next comes the video tribute to tonight’s theme providers. It’s hard to oversell the contribution of the Rolling Stones, but “AI” tries. We are told they are both “the most iconic band on the planet, period,” and “the greatest rock and roll band in the world.” Nothing about Brian Jones in the pool or Bill Wyman’s 13-year-old girlfriend.

“American Idol” is honored to pay tribute,” Ryan says. And royalties.

So let’s generate some cash for the Glimmer Twins. It’s on with the singing …

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Poll: Who sang best on ‘American Idol’ tonight?

March 16th, 2010, 9:30 pm by PETER LARSEN, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

We suppose it’s time to get over our disappointment in the voters of America for those ill-advised choices they made last week: voting out Katelyn Epperly, Todrick Hall, Alex Lambert, and especially Lilly Scott, when there were easily four worse singers who survived?

But that’s how a democracy operates when it’s run by tweens and teen girls with speed dial. Life goes on, and so shall we.

Tonight the Top 12 debuted, and starting this week only one singer will leave each week until the finale, when Crystal Bowersox or Siobhan Magnus will be named the winner. Write it down, we’re calling this baby right now.

But you’ve watched the show. You’ve got opinions. Take a spin through the slide show to refresh your memory of the faces that go with the names and voices, and then vote in our poll.

Who sang best on "American Idol" tonight?
View Results

‘American Idol’: More health problems for Top 12

March 16th, 2010, 2:43 pm by The Watcher

We’re just a couple of hours away from the kickoff of the “American Idol” finals, and once again health problems loom.

Paige Miles has laryngitis.

Paige posted on the Idol contestants’ Facebook page, “ I have no voice at all! Doctor says its VC [vocal cord] Laryngitis with swelling so pray for me! I will make it work regardless but what a way 2 start Top 12 :0} !!! Still excited for today! Big stage now!!!”

This follows last week’s semifinal switchup, when the boys were asked to sing a day earlier to accommodate ailing Crystal Bowersox. With just one performance night mixing both genders, there no such relief available for Paige.

The Idols will be singing Rolling Stones songs tonight. MJ’s Big Blog had a spy at rehearsals. If you want a preview of the song list, click on that link. Don’t go if you don’t want to know..

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Tamra Barney takes romantic trip with new boyfriend

March 16th, 2010, 1:58 pm by RICHARD CHANG, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

Tamra Barney and Eddie Judge. Image courtesy of RadarOnline.com

In case you are still interested in “The Real Housewives of Orange County,” here’s a little bit of news. Tamra Barney, who is in the midst of a divorce from Simon Barney, her husband of 11 years, recently went on a three-day vacation with her new romantic interest, Eddie Judge, 37, of Ladera Ranch.

RadarOnline.com has obtained pictures from the couple’s recent excursion to Panama. You can check them out here.

“Yes, we went to Panama,” she said in an e-mail to this reporter. “His firm funds a shelter for teens and their babies. Went down with some of his employees for their annual visit.”

When she first started seeing Judge, she denied that he was her boyfriend. But the mother of four has since come clean with her new relationship.

Meanwhile, some Web sites are reporting that original housewife Vicki Gunvalson is done with the show. On the two-part reunion episode that aired last week, she nearly walked off the set, stating, “I’m done! I’m done!” and told host Andy Cohen that she would “have to do a lot of soul searching” before deciding whether to return for a sixth season, presuming there is a sixth season.

However, Vicki has not confirmed anything about her status with the show yet. We’ll keep you posted.

 

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